Ottawa apparently sees the NEB as a friend of the oil industry

Canada’s nominally independent energy regulator, the National Energy Board (which is currently evaluating Enbridge’s plan to build the Northern Gateway pipeline) is an ally of the federal government, according to an embarrassing official policy paper that was made public on Thursday. First Nations, on the other hand, are an adversary.

Greenpeace just published pages of documents obtained by the Climate Action Network through a freedom of information request. They show the NEB listed among entities Ottawa considers to be allies in its struggle to promote oil sands abroad. In an adjacent column on the same piece of paper, First Nations appear under “adversaries.” The documents were drafted by Canada’s international trade ministry, and they lay out an advocacy strategy to combat criticism of Canada’s oil sands in the European Union.

Frantic efforts to contain the damage are already underway. The international trade ministry let it be known it does “not agree with the characterizations;” the NEB protested that it is “free from influence;” and Environment Minister Peter Kent is crying out loud against the unfortunate paper’s “gross mischaracterization of reality.” Still, for Ottawa this remains a big, slippery black stain.

The NEB’s Enbridge Pipeline Review Panel, locally known as the “Dog and Pony Show”, just had their public hearing here in Prince George, British Columbia. Everyone, including First Nations, are preparing for litigation, because they view the NEB Review Panel’s process as being pre-determined for APPROVAL of the project. This bit of news just confirms our views! This supposedly neutral and objective process has become a complete joke!!!

One would like to believe that all industries that produce jobs and create wealth for Canadians are “friends” of this government.

Of course if one is a quasi/marxist who views a utopic government controlled economy as being inherently good and free market based businesses are inherently bad – a description befitting the vast majority of those at the core of the “green” movement – then yes, such a description is worthy of scorn.

As an intervenor i submitted this piece o evidence…
16) In the National Energy
Board’s most recent report – “Report on Plan and Priorities” -2011-12, there
is a very disturbing acknowledgement by the Board. The Board realizes what is
at stake if they are not open and transparent …” If stakeholders lose
confidence in the NEB as a federal energy regulator, it could impede the
organization’s effectiveness and sphere of influence. Reputation and
credibility flow from how an organization

conducts its
activities and works to achieve results. The NEB will continue to strive toward
excellence in achieving its strategic outcome. NEB staff will maintain their
expert knowledge in the energy industry. The Board will continue to listen to
stakeholders to ensure that all viewpoints are understood and that Board
decisions represent the full range of the Canadian public interest. Finally,
the NEB will be transparent about all its actions to show Canadians how it is
holding both itself and the regulated industry accountable.” ( page 8)

17) But on
page 9 of the 2011-12 Report, it states “Increased public, parliamentary and
media interest in the work of the NEB, combined with a heightened public
interest in energy matters, have created an opportunity for the Board. Because
of its higher public profile, the Board now has a better chance to educate
Canadians on how pipelines are built and operated in a safe and secure
manner that protects the environment and enables efficient energy markets.”

18) This
appears to be the first mention for a new mandate for the Board, to EDUCATE! I
hope that is not the case as that will definitely lead to “stakeholders losing
confidence in the NEB as a federal energy regulator” and impact its’
“reputation and credibility.”

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